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Volunteering and Conservation in Victoria FallsThu, 16 May 2019 09:43:03 +0000en-ZAhourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.10News from Nakavangohttp://www.nakavango.com/2018/07/news-from-nakavango/
http://www.nakavango.com/2018/07/news-from-nakavango/#respondFri, 13 Jul 2018 09:27:43 +0000http://www.nakavango.com/?p=2852Continue reading News from Nakavango]]>2018 is turning out to be another successful year for Nakavango Conservation Programme, with the help of our eager volunteers. Their efforts are focused on conservation and community work, making a difference both on and off the reserve. But it’s not all work and no play – unforgettable moments with new, like-minded friends and thrilling wildlife encounters are all part of daily life here!

Arrival of Animals

Earlier in the year, we welcomed a new black rhino calf, Pahedu (meaning ‘one of us’ or ‘among us’). Until recently, we hadn’t had many chances to see the little one, with its protective mom keeping it away from inquisitive visitors. But the pair have started venturing out more often, with mom introducing Pahedu to the world, and giving guests and volunteers some precious opportunities to view them.

We’re being treated to some great sightings of elephants too, which have entered our Victoria Falls Private Game Reserve from the bordering Zambezi National Park. We are pleased to have them as they naturally prune the vegetation. They have also presented an excellent opportunity for our volunteers who are learning how to track animals on foot through the bush, and going out twice weekly to look for and follow spoor and other signs.

Animal Relocation

We are ready to move some of our black rhino to other reserves to allow them to breed more. Thanks to the protection of our IAPF anti-poaching team and a favourable reserve habitat, our black rhino population has grown significantly over the past few years. Their thriving has seen an improvement in the ecology of the reserve, with them having filled an important ecological niche.

Road Maintenance

Consistent road maintenance is necessary due to heavy rains. The Nakavango team and volunteers do road clearing and repairs, rock packing, and drainage system checks on a weekly basis to ensure the roadways remain accessible to safari vehicles and the anti-poaching team, especially during the wet season.

Planting Trees

We germinate seeds of indigenous trees in our nursery and our volunteers then pant the saplings around the reserve. The aim of this project is to rehabilitate our environment that was once the site of an elephant programme. One of the species we are reintroducing is the acacia, which is effective in preventing soil erosion and improving soil fertility through nitrogen fixing. As part of caring for our land, our volunteers also assist with removing alien plants, which displace native vegetation.

Setting Camera Traps

With the help of our IAPF anti-poaching team, we have set up camera traps to better monitor animals on the reserve. This allows us to add to our wildlife list elusive or nocturnal animals that we don’t regularly encounter. We are also able to monitor animals’ movements, track individuals, and estimate the size of species’ populations.

Community Projects

Our conservation efforts do not start and stop on the reserve, but also extends to our local communities. We help to make their people aware of the benefits for them of preserving natural resources, and work with them to uplift their communities so they can fully participate.

Our main focus has been on Masuwe Primary School, and we visit weekly to assists with various tasks, like planting and tending their vegetable garden and orchard. We are planning to repaint the classrooms and bring in new dustbins to prevent littering, too. Masuwe is surrounded by reserve, and our team and volunteers also pick up rubbish, which is harmful to the wildlife, en route to and around the school.

It’s Not All Work

Hard work bears the fruit of special experiences on the reserve. Our volunteers enjoy evening game drives with sundowners, bush dinners, stargazing, and camping nights. These activities allow them to take time out while taking in the atmosphere of the African bush with new friends around a warm fire. Volunteers are also encouraged to explore the area, braving Victoria Falls infamous adrenaline activities.

Nakavango’s community project aim for 2015 is to make a more significant impact in conservation education and this is achieved through our visits to the local primary schools. We are delighted to now be assisting Masuwe Primary School (MPS), after having achieved our objectives at Jabulani Primary School. Jabulani Primary School is receiving ongoing support from other organisations, and they will always hold a special place in our hearts. Our new initiative is being truly embraced at MPS as we focus on our goal of educating the children about practical conservation activities, which the pupils will be able to apply at school and at home. Our team finds it most exciting that this knowledge will be carried with them as they grow into young, conservation-aware adults!

During the first few months of 2015, we have achieved some outstanding results. One of our first projects was to construct some more signs for the school and erecting them at intervals a few kilometres, helping guests and parents to find the school more easily. From this first project, it became obvious that the children really loved their school – they wanted to be involved in everything we were doing to improve their school! Their enthusiasm was so motivational that the first thing our volunteers did when returning back to the centre was to create posters and flashcards to use on future visits to enthuse the children even more about learning.

Our volunteers experienced a great sense of achievement in constructing a new playground area for the children. Swings, a slide, a seesaw and a small jungle-gym were donated for the playground, allowing the children to play the type of games that were never a possibility before – the children had never even seen such playground equipment before. The entire school waited after school hours for our volunteers to arrive just to see their new toys arrive and thank the team. Once the children had overcome their shock of seeing of seeing such magical new toys, we decided to make it even more special and spray paint the equipment which now looks stunning. It’s safe and couldn’t be more fun for the children!

Our latest project at MPS is under construction: a new pathway and decorative quad. Alongside our team, many of the young students and all the teachers, including the wonderful Headmistress, have managed to construct an incredibly eco-friendly pathway by incorporating the concept of “Reduce, Red-use. Recycle”. The pathway’s border is made of hundreds of “Chibuku” bottles, otherwise destined for the landfill site. The bottles had been collected from existing landfill sites and from our volunteers’ litter sweeps. The bottles were filled with sand and embedded in the shallow troughs along the pathway border. The bottle boundary looks especially lovely in the sunshine when they glisten against the sand. This project is nearly complete, and all that’s left is for our volunteers to plant some of the indigenous Sausage Trees cultivated in our Nakavango nursery in order to add a little more greenery to the centre quad’s pathway.

Masuwe primary School’s spirit must be congratulated as this is a school that makes the most of every activity and chance they’re given. The Nakavango team felt privileged to join the school at their Sport’s Day event a few weeks ago. This day will never be forgotten – just the amount of energy these wonderful children have in the midday heat of Zimbabwe is remarkable. The Nakavango team handed out refreshments including Mazoe orange crush and pieces of apple and oranges. All the children competed extraordinarily well and managed to further stun the Nakavango team with their continuous spirit and joy throughout the day.

Stay tuned for further news on our upcoming projects at the school… we will be clearing the way for a car park and designing a mural for the Grade 0’s classroom. The mural will combine all the different aspects of rural life onto one beautiful piece for the children to see every day, giving them an extra reason to smile when they go to school!

]]>http://www.nakavango.com/2015/03/masuwe-primary-school-embraces-nakavango/feed/1The Rhino Situation – seeking out the “positives”…http://www.nakavango.com/2013/09/rhino-situation-seeking-positives/
http://www.nakavango.com/2013/09/rhino-situation-seeking-positives/#respondFri, 20 Sep 2013 08:40:51 +0000http://www.nakavango.com/?p=1478Continue reading The Rhino Situation – seeking out the “positives”…]]>People are naturally very quick to focus on tragic and negative news, however, there is so much positive action taking place, especially for rhinos. It is vital to focus on and share the positivity, for without feeding positivity and faith into the future of our rhinos, a positive result is not possible.

I decided to run a 20 minute internet search for “rhino positive” and was amazed and inspired by what I found. Individuals and communities can and are making a difference.

Local companies in South Africa have pledged support through cause-related marketing…

Between May and July of 2012, the company BKB encouraged its customers to purchase Freddie Hirsch spices in order to help raise funds for the fight against rhino poaching. For every product purchased, BKB donated R3 to the Wilderness Foundation’s Forever Wild Rhino Protection Initiative which resulted in a total of R11865 being raised.

Greeff Properties pledged to donate a portion of commission on selected property sales to the Forever Wild Rhino Protection Initiative.

Kids T-shirt campaign: Keedo clothing for kids, designed and manufactured in South Africa, designed a special “rhino T-shirt” and pledged R10, £1 or $1 for each T-shirt sold. The campaign raised R5980 for the same Initiative.

The Shamwari Group has raised R2 million for the Forever Wild Rhino Protection Initiative, by offering guests a discounted rate if guests donate a minimum of R100 per person per night. Shamwari Group then donated R500 for every room night sold on this offer.

On an international level, CITES has taken positive steps to protect rhinos: Governments made a clear choice at the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (in Bangkok this year) to offer more protection for rhinos by agreeing on timelines that will help two of the worst offenders in the rhino horn trade, Vietnam and Mozambique, to clean up their act (by strengthening and enforcing legislation).

In the Kwa-Zulu Natal Province of South Africa sports has been used as a common denominator for bringing different groups of people together in rhino conservation. Ezemvelo Wildlife held a gala dinner in Richard’s Bay to raise funds for conservation and R140000 was raised through a celebrity auction. Items belonging to South Africa’s swimming gold medallist, Chad le Clos, and other sports heroes were auctioned. The auction also included boxing gloves donated by former American World Boxing Champion, George Foreman. Ezemvelo Wildlife are very involved in organising sports events/leagues and sporting opportunities for local communities. Through their association with SAFA (South African Football Association), SAFA have come on board, and are “glad to be associated with Ezemvelo Wildlife in fighting against rhino poaching.”

Colin Ingram bats for rhinos: the South African Proteas cricketer has taken on the role as an ambassador for the Forever Wild Rhino Protection Initiative, helping to further spread awareness of the need for rhino conservation efforts.

Stronger penalties as a deterrent for poachers – two men will spend 15 years in jail after they were found guilty of rhino poaching in Limpopo. They were sentenced with no option of a fine.

New technique revolutionises rhino safety: Impregnating dye into horns of living rhino has proven to be a deterrent for poachers.

Twins host “save the rhino” birthday party: Eli and Joshua Simms in South Africa chose to use their ninth birthday party as a fundraising event in aid of rhinos. The boys contacted the Forever Wild Rhino Protection Initiative, who embraced the boys’ idea and generosity. The party invitations included requests for donations, small or large, towards the Forever Wild Rhino Protection Initiative. They boys drew creative posters stating “Red die Renoster” (meaning “Save the rhino” in Afrikaans). Each party pack included a little wooden rhino nametag as a reminder to the guests to continue their support for the cause. The boys raised R1300, and then decided to give 10% of their birthday money in addition, so in total they raised R1650.

A 12-year-old girl started a remarkable campaign to help the vulnerable rhinos in Africa. This 12-year-old Hong Kong conservationist Julia Murray has spent a lot of time raising money and awareness for Africa’s endangered rhinos. For her 11th birthday party, Julia and 13 friends painted “Save the Rhino” pictures. Afterwards, the colourful artwork was auctioned online and raised a staggering HK$30000 – donated to the Chipembere Rhino Foundation in South Africa. She has set up a Facebook page: JuMu Rhino Fund and is teaching local children by speaking at schools around Hong Kong. She has since gone on to raise another HK$50000, through bake sales and stalls at fairs and markets, and through selling bags with rhinos on the front, as well as rhino hairbands and key rings (all made in SA by local charities).

The Wilderness Foundation could not have said it better: Saving the rhino is all about a global effort. Everyone can do their part, no matter their age, financial position or education. Cooperation between individuals, private companies, schools, communities and governments is essential. Mrs Edna Molewa, Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs in South Africa, said at the recent CITES convention, “All efforts to protect the country’s rhino population are not just aimed at protecting a species from extinction, but also securing and conserving all South Africa’s natural resources.” This sums it up quite nicely… to save a species, we need to protect their habitat too, and in preserving these natural habitats, we will be conserving all other species at the same time.

The sum of all the efforts is substantial, and with the positive and proactive attitude of today’s youth, my hope and faith in a secure future for the rhinos of our planet has been restored – our home Mother Earth is in good hands as this generation blossoms.

]]>http://www.nakavango.com/2013/09/rhino-situation-seeking-positives/feed/0Clueless in Africa (a delightful post from the mouths of two of our volunteers!)http://www.nakavango.com/2013/07/clueless-africa-a-delightful-post-mouths-volunteers/
http://www.nakavango.com/2013/07/clueless-africa-a-delightful-post-mouths-volunteers/#respondMon, 29 Jul 2013 09:00:59 +0000http://www.nakavango.com/?p=1416Continue reading Clueless in Africa (a delightful post from the mouths of two of our volunteers!)]]>CLUELESS IN AFRICA – JULY 2013

BY

FLORA HAMILTON & SUZY HOUGHTON

After spending two weeks at the Nakavango Conservation Centre in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, we have created a list of ten things we found essential to our survival!…

At least one full khaki outfit including a cap and a pair of Courtney boots (you’ll be Peter’s best friend… but don’t arrive in it)

Camera: a maximum of ten pictures of an elephant – be a traveller not a tourist

Sun cream (do not underestimate a Zim winter)

Ipod and headphones for the evening campouts (you will need music to disguise the lion roars metres from the tent)

A very strong bladder! (Avoid going in the bush at all costs)

A good knowledge of the local lingo… Shame, Ya, Just now, Now now

Oxygen tank for white-water rafting (you will spend more time in the Zambezi River than in the raft)

20/20 vision, or if lacking, bring glasses (some things really are camouflaged – like the big elephant a metre away from the vehicle that Flora could not see?)

Basic knowledge of the wildlife (so you don’t mistake a hippo for a rock – Suzy?)

Full safety briefing before venturing into “Shoestrings” on a Saturday night. This, Brenda will happily advise you of

]]>http://www.nakavango.com/2013/07/clueless-africa-a-delightful-post-mouths-volunteers/feed/0Visit to Jabulani Primary and Secondary school with Children in the Wildernesshttp://www.nakavango.com/2013/02/visit-jabulani-primary-secondary-school-children-wilderness/
http://www.nakavango.com/2013/02/visit-jabulani-primary-secondary-school-children-wilderness/#respondThu, 28 Feb 2013 15:34:52 +0000http://nakavango.wpengine.com/?p=1271Continue reading Visit to Jabulani Primary and Secondary school with Children in the Wilderness]]>Opposite the Victoria Falls airport lies a track which seems of little consequence. There is no signage and looks like it could lead into the middle of nowhere, in face there is little to suggest that what lies beyond the scant foliage is a small school, run by a woman who is in the same mould as the venerable Mrs Hammond who set up Plumtree school at a railway siding in the middle of nowhere in disused railway carriages in the 1800’s.

Jabulani school has both a senior and junior school, it is small for a rural school and this is probably the reason for its relative success. The high school consists of a dusty courtyard, where the Zimbabwe flag flies, and one building which is divided into two classrooms. There is no hot seating at Jabulani, a common occurrence at other Government run institutions and this is the reason the school has been kept to this size. However there are still up to 50 pupils per class and it seems that all forms are taught together. This was the impression I was given when all of the students came out of the classroom to greet us.

We were then treated to a fantastic display of singing and dancing under a tree (it was a hot day and the shade provided a welcome relief for us all).

The students started off with a rendition of their welcome song which can be found on the Nakavango Facebook site and proceeded to perform at least five more numbers which included dance as well.

All of the young men and women were dressed impeccably, some had school shoes and some didn’t but for those that didn’t they were just as smart and well turned out.

The smiles resonated and the ladies cheered for the young men who were dancing, there was much raucous laughter at some of the moves – which were clearly well rehearsed adding to the impromptu festivities.

Moving onto the primary school we were introduced to Sue Goatley of ‘Children in the Wilderness’ and were given the tour by Sephiwe – the headmistress. There is a dire need for money here. The council charges outrageous amounts for water usage and it is an average reading so is way above what the school actually uses. Many parents cannot pay for the five US dollars term fees and so pay the tuition in the from of community service.

The fist priority is a borehole and plans are already in motion and more classrooms will follow after this.

Currently some children are in the two buildings while other lessons are conducted in the open air in the shade of fantastically large trees.

One aspect which struck me was that there was a hive of activity everywhere I looked. From thatching to cooking, keeping the grounds neat and tidy and teaching.

We look forward to having a lot more involvement with Jabulai school and stand in awe of their teaching staff who have started an athletics team and have plans afoot to start some club activities such as chess and scrabble. An inspiration to us all that a little bit of commitment and passion can go a long way.